General:
Germany, 1926
Directed by: F. W. Murnau
Cast:
Faust – Gösta Ekman
Mephisto – Emil Jannings
Gretchen – Camilla Horn
Cinematography: Carl Hoffmann
Set and Costume Design: Robert Herlth and Walter Röhrig
Duration: 98 minutes
In short:
Based on motifs from Goethe’s classic, Murnau’s Faust tells the story of the aging scholar Faust, who is tempted by the devil Mephisto. To seduce Faust, Mephisto unleashes a plague upon the land; as the dying people beg Faust for help and his prayers go unanswered, he turns to the devil for guidance. Mephisto promises him eternal youth and all the riches of the world. Faust agrees to the pact, selling his soul to the devil. But when he falls in love with the young and innocent Gretchen—leading to her downfall—he begins to doubt the bargain he made with Mephisto.
Musical version:
New music for piano by Wilfried Kaets.
Additional information:
A classic of German film history, based on the work by J. W. von Goethe.
Historic film print presented at reduced original speed on a large screen with live organ music.
Before the screening, there will be an introductory film talk with silent film musician Wilfried Kaets and film expert Joachim Steinigeweg.